Angelina Jolie Shares Her Story Of Elective Double Mastectomy And The BRCA1 Gene (chemo, treatment)
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My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman. Only a fraction of breast cancers result from an inherited gene mutation. Those with a defect in BRCA1 have a 65% risk of getting it, on average. Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy. I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex.
I choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options.
It certainly is a very individual decision. 87% risk is pretty high though.
That is very high risk. Gosh I can't imagine it but I think I might have done the same thing if it had been me. I wonder if she is going to have her ovaries removed or have a hysterectomy. She could always adopt more children if she wanted.
Has anyone here that that blood testing done that Angelina Jolie had?
I have no breast or ovarian cancer in my family, so it's not worth it for me to get tested. However, if I tested positive for BRCA, I would absolutely opt for a double mastectomy and hysterectomy. I'm not sure if that would have been my choice before I was diagnosed with cancer, but I never, ever, ever want to go through that uncertainty again. Respect for Angelina and elevating this very difficult choice that many women are forced to make.
With her income, why not just get a breast exam every six months to one year? Makes me wonder why anyone would choose this course of action. Genetic predisposition does not mean you will get it, just means you are more likely to get it. Not to mention her genetic code from father's side.
Honestly, if I had genetic predisposition for testicular cancer, I wouldnt have them removed or go through treatment until I was diagnosed with it. Does not make sense to me.
With her income, why not just get a breast exam every six months to one year? Makes me wonder why anyone would choose this course of action. Genetic predisposition does not mean you will get it, just means you are more likely to get it. Not to mention her genetic code from father's side.
Honestly, if I had genetic predisposition for testicular cancer, I wouldnt have them removed or go through treatment until I was diagnosed with it. Does not make sense to me.
I went through chemo and radiation - if I found I had an 87% chance of getting breast cancer, I would have my breasts removed without a doubt. I don't want to go through that again, and frankly, my breasts aren't that important.
Additionally, I don't at all begrudge her for choosing to remove her breasts rather than get scans every six months for the rest of her life. It would be a lifetime of waiting for cancer, instead of just eliminating much of the chance of that cancer. Her mother battled cancer for ten years, and eventually died from it - I can understand Angelina not wanting to go through that (or wanting her kids to go through that).
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